Dr. Hoddle has headed the research in this laboratory since 1997 and is primarily involved in the identification of pest problems where biological control could be a successful approach. The location, release and evaluation of natural enemy impacts on population growth features strongly in his research. The evaluation of biological control agents are conducted primarily in the field and, when necessary, aspects of both pest and natural enemy biology and behavior are studied in the laboratory. He is also the director of the Center for Invasive Species Research.

Highlights from Mark Hoddle's Research

Read Mark Hoddle's take on the state of biocontrol in California and the most threatened industries of avocado, citrus, palm, and forest.

New Zealand is an agriculturally intensive country that relies heavily on dairy cattle and sheep farming to generate income. Because New Zealand lacks a significant native terrestrial mammal fauna it subsequently lacks an essential co-evolved insect community associated with... More...

Western flower thrips lays its eggs in plant tissue, using a blade-like ovipositor to insert eggs. More...

Research Interests

Biological control is the intentional use of host specific natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, and pathogens) by humans to suppress population growth of noxious plants and animals to levels which are no longer damaging. Many of our current agricultural pest problems are amenable to biological control, and when successful, natural enemies provide enduring, environmentally benign, pest control. Biological control is also being used in conservation efforts to restore natural areas invaded by exotic organisms, especially weeds. The emphasis of my work is to identify pest problems where biological control could be successful, locate and release natural enemies, and then evaluate natural enemy impact on pest population growth. Evaluations of biological control agents are conducted primarily in the field, and when necessary, aspects of both pest and natural enemy biology and behavior are studied in the laboratory. I am particularly interested in determining; 1) the magnitude of reduction in pest population growth caused by natural enemies, 2) the mechanisms by which pests and natural enemies co-exist at low densities, 3) the number of natural enemy species that are needed to give control, 4) inter-specific competition between natural enemies which utilize the same host, and 5) the economics of biological control when compared to pesticides.

The Harry Scott Smith Scholarship for Graduate Biological Control Students

For some time Dr. Hoddle has been facilitating the Harry Scott Smith Scholarship Fund to support graduate students in biological control in Riverside, CA. If biological control is to continue to prosper in southern California, the continuing recruitment and training of high quality students is paramount. If you would like to find out more about this scholarship fund or learn how you can support the Harry Scott Smith Scholarship Fund, click here.

103. Adamski, D., and M. S. Hoddle. 2009. A new Holcocera Clemens from Guatemala and redescription of H. iceryaeella (Riley) from the United States (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae: Blastobasinae: Holcocerini): Two congeners with incidental preference for avocado. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 111: 254-262.

72. Triapitsyn, S. V., Berezovskiy, V. V., Hoddle, M. S. and Morse, J. G. 2007. A review of the Nearctic species of Erythmelus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) , with a key and new additions to the world fauna. Zootaxa 1641: 1-64.

43. Hoddle, M. S.2003. The Effect of Prey Species and Environmental Complexity on the Functional Response of Franklinothrips orizabensis: a Test of the Fractal Foraging Model. Ecological Entomology 28: 309-318.